Page 98 - South Mississippi Living - March, 2022

HOME & GARDEN
READY, SET,
Grow
Gardening for Beginners
story by Luke Height
T he world we live in today is fifilled with so many food choices. Every corner we turn, we see labels with mixed signals. With all of the speculation out there about which foods to choose and what’s best for our health and environment, we are left a bit confused.
However, you can take matters into your own hands rather than being at the whim of whatever produce the store provides. All you have to do is start growing produce at home.
Before You Grow, Ask Yourself:
Where do I have space to grow?
How is the soil in that space? Is it healthy or dead? Will I need to purchase new soil?
What are my goals? Do I want some fresh tomatoes and peppers, or do I want to become fully self-reliant for all
my produce needs?
What seeds will I need? What do I want to grow?
Once you make these decisions, you’re ready to get started.
Maintaining a garden is a simple, enjoyable, and continuous process. You learn along the way about what works and what doesn’t.
It’s about learning by trying things out and seeing how the plants react. Don’t expect for
everything to be perfect right away, just keep testing things along the way.
If you’re unsure of where to get started, you can build a raised bed.
Why Choose a Raised Bed?
Raised beds produce more vegetables per unit of garden space because space is not wasted with walkways between every row. Soil in raised beds dries and warms more quickly in spring, which permits earlier planting and harvest of spring vegetables. Soil does not become compacted because you don’t walk on it. Closely spaced plants in raised beds shade out weeds and reduce the need for frequent cultivation.
Although growing your own produce can seem like a daunting task, just take it one small step at a time and learn from your mistakes. Before you know it, you’ll be eating delicious, fresh, and home-grown produce picked right outside your door.
98 | March 2022
www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living